Category Archives: b_original_articles

Maryam Yousaf¹, Romana Anjum¹, Nadeem Ahmed⁴, Muhammad Ahmad Zeshan^2*, Safdar Ali¹, Muhammad Usman Ghani³

¹Department of Plant Pathology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan

²Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Pakistan

³Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan

⁴Department of Plant Pathology, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan

Abstract

Sphaerotheca fuliginea is the most commonly recorded fungus that cause powdery mildew of cucurbits. The outbreak of this disease occurred in Pakistan in Neelam valley. Current study was conducted to minimize significant economic losses by using different combinations of fungicides and nutritional amendments. Fungicides Bravo (Chlorothalonil) and Score (Difenoconazol) and nutrient solutions of Agsil (Potassium silicate) and Peak (mono potassium phosphate) were applied alone and in combination to manage the disease. Bravo and Score were applied @ 1.5ml/L and 2.5ml/, respectively while 0.1% solutions of both Agsila and Peak was used. Nutritional amendments were used before the onset of disease and fungicides were applied after the appearance of disease. All the treatments were randomized in three replications. The findings described the combination of fungicides was most efficient in decreasing disease incidence as it reduced the powdery mildew incidence upto 60%. In individual fungicidal applications, Bravo treated plants showed less disease incidence (36%) than Score (40%). However to avoid from the environmental hazards nutritional amendments is the safest option which gave 50% reduction in disease incidence. Agsil was more effective than Peak in individual applications and it showed 47% disease incidence that was 49% in case of Peak.

Keywords: Powdery mildew, Pumpkin, Management, Evaluation

Ali F. Al-Mehemdi^1*, Medhat M. Elsahookie², Mohammed H Al-Issawi³

¹Center of Desert Studies, University of Anbar, Iraq

²Department of Field Crops Sciences, College of Agriculture, University of Baghdad, Iraq

³Department of Field Crops Sciences, College of Agriculture, University of Anbar, Iraq

Abstract

Two trials were carried out over two locations, Ramadi and Fallujah included nine genotypes of Fennel, in order to assess the interaction between genotypes (G) and locations (E) using real data from the two experiments. The nine genotypes of fennel were randomly distributed under with Sudoku square design using type-I and model-I for combined analysis. The methodologies of this type and model solution were explained in details in the current study. Genotypes were significantly differed (P>0.01) in the first location. In the combined analysis, the genotype by location (G X E) interaction was also significant (P>0.01) which is due to the effect of the genotype. It can be concluded that Sudoku square design is suitable for selecting better genotypes as a honeycomb design and to test the multi-environment trial yield. Therefore, augmented studies should be conducted to extract the efficiency of this design using other types and models embedded in this design.

Keywords: GxE interaction, Fennel, Locations, Sudoku design

Muhammad Mazhar Iqbal^1*, Tayyaba Naz², Hafeez-u-Rehman³, Sehar Nawaz⁴, Muhammad Abdul Qayyum⁵, Mazhar Iqbal Zafar⁶, Omer Farooq⁷, Atiqure-urRehman⁷, Muhammad Imtiaz⁸, Ghulam Murtaza², Abid Mahmood⁹, Shahzada Munawar Mehdi¹⁰, Shahid Javed¹¹, Muhammad Aleem Sarwar¹², Muhammad Ishaq Javed¹³

¹Soil and Water Testing Laboratory, Chiniot. Department of Agriculture, Government of Punjab, Pakistan

²Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan

³Soil and Water Testing Laboratory, Sialkot. Department of Agriculture, Government of Punjab, Pakistan

⁴Centre of Agricultural Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan

⁵Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences. Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan

⁶Department of Environmental Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan

⁷Department of Agronomy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan

⁸Environmental Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faisalabad, Pakistan

⁹Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad, Department of Agriculture, Government of Punjab, Pakistan

¹⁰Rapid Soil Fertility Survey and Soil Testing Institute, Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

¹¹Provincial Reference Fertilizer Testing Laboratory, Raiwind, Lahore, Pakistan

¹²Soil and Water Testing Laboratory for Research, AARI, Faisalabad, Pakistan

¹³Agricultural Economics Section, AARI, Faisalabad, Pakistan

Abstract

The impact of applied farm manure (FM) on growth of maize and tissue Pb concentration in maize grown on saline-sodic sandy loam and sandy clayey loam textured Pb-toxic soils was evaluated in present pot study. The soils were spiked with Pb at 200 kg ha^-1 soil and equilibrated for 60 days at about field capacity. Treatments were comprised of three levels of FM (0, 20 or 40 g kg^-1 soil) arranged in completely randomized design each replicated thrice. The highest dry matter of maize shoots from sandy loam soil was recorded with the applied 40 g kg^-1 FM. From sandy loam soil, maximum dry matter of shoots was noted with FM at 20 and 40 g kg^-1. Applied FM at 20 and 40 g kg^-1 produced statically similar dry matter of maize roots in sandy clayey loam soil. While in sandy loam soil, 20 g kg^-1 FM application resulted in significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher dry matter of maize roots than control treatment and 40 g kg^-1 FM application. The applied FM at 20 and 40 g kg^-1 consequence in statically similar shoot and root Pb concentration grown on both textured Pb-toxic soils but lower compared to that of the control soils. For post-experiment soils, minimum plant available Pb in sandy loam soil with FM at 40 g kg^-1 was recorded while in sandy clayey loam, minimum plant available Pb was observed with the addition of FM at 20 and 40 g kg^-1.

Keywords: Farm manure, Organic matter, Pb concentration, Salinity, Sodicity, Pb venomous soil

Olarewaju Michael Oluba^*

Department of Biochemistry, Food Safety and Toxicology Research Unit, Environment and Technology Research Cluster, College of Science and Engineering, Landmark University, P.M.B. 1001, Omu Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study evaluated the interaction between changes in fermentation period and nutrient/antinutrient composition of indigenous white cassava (IWC) gari and provitamin A biofortified yellow cassava (pVABYC) gari. For both the cassava varieties, as the fermentation time was increased from 2 to 5 days, the moisture and fat contents increased significantly whereas the ash and fibre contents reduced significantly. Phytate level decrease by 15.8% and 10% in the IWC gari and pVABYC gari respectively due to increase in fermentation period from 2 to 5 days. Tannin reduced by 3.4% and 5.1% while cyanogenic potential decreased by 10% and 27.8% in the IWC gari and pVABYC gari respectively due to increase in fermentation period from 2 to 5 days. As the fermentation time increased from 2 to 5 days, the total carotenoids, β-carotene, and provitamin A carotenoids reduced by 20.7%, 22.2%, and 23.4%, respectively, for pVABYC and by 22.6%, 21.4%, and 20.7%, respectively, for IWC. The percentage retention of the total carotenoids, β-carotene, and provitamin A carotenoids in the gari samples obtained from the two cassava varieties decreased significantly with an increase in the fermentation time. In conclusion, as the fermentation time increases, pVABYC is found to have a better nutritional retention capacity than IWC. Thus, pVABYC gari retains more nutrient in addition to providing 100% more β-carotene than IWC.

Keywords: Biofortified cassava, Vitamin A deficiency, Provitamin A carotenoids, Anti-nutritional factors, Fermentation, Food processing

Naeem Sarwar^1*, Khuram Mubeen², Allah Wasaya³, Atique-ur-Rehman¹, Omer Farooq¹, Muhammad Shehzad⁴

¹Department of Agronomy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan

²Department of Agronomy, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan

³College of Agriculture, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Bahadur Sub-Campus, Layyah, Pakistan

⁴Department of Agronomy, University of Poonch, Rawalakot, AJ&K, Pakistan

Abstract

We studied the role of addition of various organic supplements for zinc uptake and overall maize crop performance. In field experiment, different sources of organic matter were added as supplement doses in the form of compost, biochar, humic acid and biofertilizer with or without soil zinc application. All other agronomic practices were remained normal as per farming community recommendation. Results revealed that various organic supplements significantly improved the crop performance not under zinc applied soil while also under zinc deficient soil. Crop showed accelerated growth in term of leaf area index, leaf area duration, crop growth rate etc which further leads toward better crop yield and quality. Organic supplements (biochar>compost>humic acid>biofertilizer) improve the crop production in zinc deficient as well as in zinc fertile soil but this effect was most prominent under biochar application. Findings suggest that farmers can enhance the maize crop productivity with the addition of organic supplements under zinc fertilization.

 Keywords: Crop, Soil fertility, Organic supplements, Yield

Madhura  Jayasinghe^1*, Binosha Fernando², Subhashinie Senadheera³, Pubudu Gunawardene⁴, Somathilaka Ranaweera¹

¹Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka

²Centre of Excellence for Alzheimer’s disease Research and Care, Sir James McCusker Alzheimer’s Disease Research Unit, School of Medical and health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia

³Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Saliyapura, Sri Lanka

⁴Zooplus AG, Sonnenstraße 15, Munich, Germany

Abstract

Manganese deficiency may cause severe health disorders and is becoming prevalent in societies that are rapidly urbanising.  Determining the Manganese contents and its relationship with the intake of protein, fibre and fats is important; which may allow people to select Manganese rich foods based on their major macronutrients. A cross-sectional study including detailed dietary assessment for two weeks, followed by proximate analysis of regularly consumed diets was conducted using 1200 adults from three different social segments as; lecturers/teachers (400), managerial employees in the private sector (400), and houses wives (400). Each social segment was assumed to elicit different lifestyles and different daily Manganese and Macronutrient intake levels. Most frequently consumed food items by them and their respective portion sizes were identified. Those were prepared using mostly practiced cooking methods and chemically analysed for proximate compositions of fat, protein, dietary fibre and Manganese contents. Regression and general liner models were used to estimate the association between protein, fibre and fat intake and Mn levels. The average daily protein, fibre and fat intakes were 53.51, 36.85 and 41.85 grams respectively. The average Manganese intake was 1.87 grams. There were significantly negative association between dietary Manganese levels and fat intake (β=-0.041, p<0.00). Increased dietary fat intake was associated with low levels of Manganese (β=-0.041, p<0.00) for all social segments. Higher protein (β=0.019, p=0.01) or fibre intake (β=0.013 p=0.002) reduced the risk of Manganese deficiency. Overall, dietary Manganese elicited a positive correlation with proteins and fibre in foods, but a negative correlation with dietary fat.

 Keywords: Manganese, Dietary fibre, Fats, Protein

Hussein Jasim Shareef*

Date Palm Research Center, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq

Abstract

Organic fertilizer can be viewed to diminish the negative effect of saltiness on the plant. Foliar application of yeast (4 g l^-1) and algae (4 ml l^-1) extracts on Hillawi offshoots, watered with salt or freshwater examined. The outcomes demonstrated that yeast extracts improved both the hormone levels and the date palm biochemical reactions. Salinity reduced all examined growth parameters (leaf area, plant height, and leaves number). Likewise, chlorophyll content in leaves decreased. Organic fertilizers improved date palm growth. Yeast application increased chlorophyll content, organic solutes, and substances growth included indole-3-acetic acid, zeatin, and gibberellin. However, the yeast extracts increased amino acids and ascorbic acid. The organic fertilizer lowered the accumulation of sodiumin the leaf. It increased uptake of potassium, bringing about a higher K⁺/Na⁺ ratio. Improving plant development under saltiness conditions was identified with an enhancement in the content of amino acids and carbohydrate content. The use of yeast extract could induce the recovery of the plant exposed to salinity. Organic fertilizers (yeast and seaweed extracts), which are economically and environmentally friendly, can be recommended to farmers for alleviating salinity.

 Keywords: GA3, Auxins, Algae extracts, Yeast extracts

Tamrin Abdullah, Irwan Irwan, Tutik Kuswinanti, Itji Diana Daud, Asman Asman*, Andi Nasruddin, Nurariaty Agus

Department of Plant Pests and Diseases, Faculty of Agriculture, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia

Abstract

Entomopathogenic fungi have been proved controlling plant pests, and most of the entomopathogenic fungi isolated from the agroecosystem. The research was carried out to characterize the entomopathogenic fungi diversity associated with different agroecosystem on a different location in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Fungi of rice field ecosystems were found more diverse than on dryland ecosystems, and the genus was Fusarium species, Aspergillus species, Rhizopus species, Trichoderma species, Penicillium species, Rhizoctonia species and Metharizium species. Moreover, Fusarium species and Rhizopus species were the most frequent genus isolated from rice field ecosystem, while on dryland ecosystems, the fungus of Metharizium species found more frequent than Fusarium species and Aspergillus species According to a geographical location on rice field ecosystems. The number of fungi isolated on the regency of Gowa more numerous than regency of Sidrap, Takalar, and Pinrang. Meanwhile, on the dryland ecosystems, three locations were the city of Makassar, the regency of Maros, and the regency of Polman. Among three areas, the regency of Maros founded more fungi than regency of Polman and Makassar. This study exhibits the diversity of fungi on the rice field, and dryland ecosystems were quite different.

 Keywords: Entomopathogenic fungi, Agroecosystem soil, Diversity, South Sulawesi

Hafeez ur Rahim^*1,2, Ishaq Ahmad Mian¹, Muhammad Arif ³, Sajjad Ahmad³, Zaid Khan³

¹Department of Soil & Environmental Sciences, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan

²School of Environmental sciences and technology, Dalian University of Technology, Liaoning, China

³Department of Agronomy, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan

Abstract

There are numerous benefits of biochar and summer legumes in the soil fertility status enhancement, so, keeping in consideration these benefits, a research study was designed to investigate the soil fertility status influence with the carryover effect of biochar and summer legumes at the UAP Research Farm, during winter 2016-2017. An experiment in the rotation was conducted in summer 2016 having three summer legumes for a specific purpose i.e. mungbean (grain), sesbania (green manuring), and cowpea (fodder), control was also comprised. Biochar synthesized domestically in a furnace from small wood cuttings on a pyrolysis temperature (400–500^◦C) and applied once to legumes @ 0, 5 and 10 tons ha^-1. When the legumes were harvested, the residues of sesbania remained in the soil, while the residues of the other two legumes were taken away. The test for soil fertility status investigation was performed on subsequent wheat in RCBD with three replicates on the previous field layout of legumes. Significantly maximum soil total nitrogen, extractable P, K, Fe, Zn, Mn were obtained in the plots previously incorporated with sesbania. However, Cu was not significantly affected. While, in the case of preceding biochar, maximum soil total nitrogen, extractable P, K, Cu, Fe, Zn, and Mn were obtained on 10 tons ha^-1. The biochar-legumes interaction was significant for macronutrients while non-significant for micronutrients. Thus, it is concluded that preceding legumes and previously applied biochar showed a significant carry-over effect on soil fertility status.

Keywords: Biochar, Summer legumes, Soil fertility status

Rafi Qamar1, Imtiaz Anjum1, Atique-ur-Rehman2*, Muhammad Ehsan Safdar1, Hafiz Muhammad, Rashad Javeed3, Abdul Rehman1, Yasir Ramzan4
1Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Pakistan
2Department of Agronomy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan
3Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus, Pakistan
4Wheat Research Institute, AARI, Faisalabad, Pakistan

Abstract

Climate change emerges in different forms such as drought, which is prevalent all over the world, especially in semi-arid and arid regions. Crop production especially wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield is affected due to water shortage at critical growth stages in Pakistan. A greenhouse experiment was conducted by using plastic trays to assess the performance of wheat to exogenous silicon (Si) application under water stress which in applied through skipping irrigation at critical stages at College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Pakistan. Experiment include irrigation levels (I1: irrigation at crown root stage + booting stage, I2: irrigation at crown root stage + anthesis stage, I3: crown root stage + grain development stage, I4: crown root stage + booting stage + anthesis stage + grain development stage, I5: crown root stage + tillering stage + booting stage + earing stage + milking stage + dough stage) and foliar application of Si viz., Si0: 0% (Control), Si1: 0.25%, Si2: 0.50%, and Si3: 1% (w/v). Treatment combination I1 + Si0 significantly reduced yield and yield attributes, net assimilation rate, Si contents in plants, leaf water potential, chlorophyll content, root length and water use efficiency furthermore, increased evapotranspiration efficiency. In contrast, treatment combination I5 + Si3 significantly increased these parameters and reduced evapotranspiration efficiency. Moreover, treatment combinations I4 + Si3 and I3 + Si3 were statistically at par with treatment combination I5 + Si3 which indicating the role of Si in mitigating negative impact of water shortage and improved these parameters. It is concluded that plant exhibited positive response at irrigation levels I3 and I4 in combination with foliar-applied Si3 while irrigation level lower than I3 with Si3 was not showed positive improvement in crop productivity.

Keywords: Net assimilation rate, Silicon, Water stress, Water use efficiency, Relative water content